Pandemic: Deadly Worldwide Outbreak of Influenza Predicted - FLAVORx Testing Preventative Antiretroviral Drugs In Thailand

FLAVORx (www.flavorx.com) responds to President Bush's warning of the avian flu spreading towards the U.S. that is feared to be more deadly and more virulent than either the Hong Kong Flu of 1968 or the Spanish flu of 1918 that killed an estimated 50 million people. FLAVORx the leading Maryland bio tech award winning company is testing flavor formulations in Thailand for covering the bitter taste of the anti retroviral drugs children will need to recover but find near impossible to swallow due to taste.

We feel that it is our social responsibility to help in any kind of situation like this where lives are at stake

The Flu whether avian or not can be fatal

Pharmacies are going to be more critical than ever this year in making sure that the supply of medicines can meet the demand. Given an outbreak, these medications must also be made palatable so the patient can swallow them and stick to their medication regimen as the doctor prescribed, that is our priority.

take the yuck out of medicine.

Bethesda, MD (PRWEB) October 8, 2005 -- With the avian flu pandemic looming ahead of us FLAVORx, Inc.(www.flavorx.com), the industry standard for the flavoring of prescription and OTC drugs, announced that it is preparing in case this deadly strain of the flu spreads west and causes a pandemic infection. The company is testing formulations in Thailand for the anti retroviral drugs that will be necessary for recovery if a pandemic hits. Children and the elderly are especially susceptible to the virus and the medications that are used to treat this type of disease are extremely bitter and hard to take. Due to this, many young and old patients will fall prey to non-compliance which will jeopardize their recovery and can put their long term health at risk.

Testing in Thailand started over three months ago and has been extremely successful in helping Thai children take their ARV medications with far less rejection (non-compliance) and trauma. Prior to FLAVORx, compliance without the help of flavoring was very low, below 50%. Studies on flavored medicines show that compliance increases to over 90%. FLAVORx (www.flavorx.com) has donated all supplies and efforts to this project free of charge, “We feel that it is our social responsibility to help in any kind of situation like this where lives are at stake,” says Woodie Neiss, CFO of FLAVORx, Inc.

“The Flu whether avian or not can be fatal,” says Kenny Kramm, President and CEO of FLAVORx. “Pharmacies are going to be more critical than ever this year in making sure that the supply of medicines can meet the demand. Given an outbreak, these medications must also be made palatable so the patient can swallow them and stick to their medication regimen as the doctor prescribed, that is our priority.” Care for those individuals most at risk, children and the elderly, will also be critical.

Already this new strain of flu has proven to be more virulent than either the 1968 Hong Kong flu which claimed nearly a million lives and the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918 that killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide.

Even though an individual cannot be inoculated against the avian flu, it is still recommended that everyone get the flu shot. If you do get the flu there are several prescription and OTC remedies that can help alleviate the symptoms. Above all water and rest are most necessary. If children are infected it is highly recommended that they have their medicines flavored. Flavoring not only increases a child’s acceptance of a medicine but it ensures accurate dosing and relieves parental stress. Liquid flavored medications are also more quickly absorbed into the patient’s system and thus recovery is more immediate. In an American Academy of Pediatrics study, nearly 90% of pediatricians recommend flavoring prescription medications to boost compliance.

About FLAVORx
FLAVORx (www.flavorx.com) is the leading provider of the FLAVORx medical flavoring system to pharmacies worldwide. All FLAVORx flavors are FDA tested and approved. Currently available in more than 30,000 pharmacies, such as Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS, Target, Alberton’s, Kmart and Safeway, FLAVORx has flavored more than 50 million prescriptions worldwide. The company develops, manufactures and markets its flavoring system that is used to flavor more than 600 medications. FLAVORx does not make medicine taste like candy, but makes it more palatable for children, adults and even animals. Founded in 1995, the company is on a mission to “take the yuck out of medicine.”

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